More individuals with medical conditions now eligible for a third dose of vaccine
Waterloo Region – Yesterday, the Province released guidance on which populations are eligible for a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. These individuals include those who are severely immunocompromised and the elderly living in high-risk congregate care settings. A third dose of the vaccine will offer better protection during a fourth wave while the Delta variant is still in circulation.
Waterloo Region residents who qualify for a third dose of vaccine because of a medical condition need to have their physician or specialist complete a referral form before they are immunized. The severely immunocompromised group includes:
- Individuals receiving active treatment (e.g., chemotherapy, targeted therapies, immunotherapy) for solid tumour or hematologic malignancies
- Recipients of solid-organ transplant and taking immunosuppressive therapy
- Recipients of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T-cell therapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (within two years of transplantation or taking immunosuppression therapy)
- Individuals with moderate to severe primary immunodeficiency (e.g., DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
- Individuals with stage 3 or advanced untreated HIV infection and those with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
- Individuals receiving active treatment with the following categories of immunosuppressive therapies: anti-B cell therapies (monoclonal antibodies targeting CD19, CD20 and CD22), high-dose systemic corticosteroids, alkylating agents, antimetabolites, or tumour-necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors and other biologic agents that are significantly immunosuppressive.
Severely immunocompromised individuals are eligible for a third dose eight weeks after their second dose.
Waterloo Region is already administering third doses of the vaccine to residents of long-term care homes and high-risk retirement homes. These individuals will have access to the vaccine five months after their second dose and do not need to complete a referral form.
There are many opportunities to get the COVID-19 vaccine in Waterloo Region.
Vaccines are available from some family physicians for their patients and at select pharmacies. Vaccines are also available at two regional vaccination clinics (no appointment required):
435 The Boardwalk, Medical Centre 2, Suite 106 Waterloo
- Monday, September 13 to Sunday, September 19: 2 p.m. – 8:15 p.m.
- Monday, September 20 to Sunday, September 26: 8 a.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Cambridge Pinebush, SmartCentres, 66 Pinebush Road, Cambridge
- Wednesdays: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Saturdays: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Home-based vaccination for those having difficulty accessing the vaccine in the community. Complete the Retirement Home and Homebound Vaccination Request form on the Region of Waterloo website.
Residents with qualifying medical conditions are asked to bring their completed referral form with them.
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